Emma: David Ross Will Remember His 100th Home Run

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It was the shot heard around the world. OK, it was certainly heard around Wrigley Field.

When Cubs catcher David Ross connected Friday afternoon, the crack of the bat echoed throughout the ballpark. Soon followed a loud eruption, with the Friendly Confines knowing instantly it was gone and realizing that it was a milestone. Grandpa Rossy finally hit the century mark in career home runs.

Ross turned second base and saw the reaction in the raucous Cubs dugout. He couldn't help but to smile -- it gets him every time. They had been waiting for this one. Then, Ross walked down the steps and joined his teammates for a moment they'll long remember.

Then came the curtain call.

"How about that," Ross said after the Cubs' 6-2 win over the Phillies. "I'm not used to those. That was fun."

Prior to his final season in the big leagues, the 39-year-old Ross stood four home runs away from 100 in his career and was coming off a three-homer season in 2015. He made it a goal to reach 100 career homers.

Naturally, Ross' Cubs teammates joined in on the fun of that mark. They wanted it, too. Fans embraced it, as well. With each at-bat came a sense of anticipation.

Finally, it happened. In the fifth inning, Ross crushed a three-run homer 416 feet off the new Nuveen sign in left field -- a rocket that would've reached Waveland Avenue. Ross entered his special postgame press conference and sarcastically offered "Yay, me! Yay, me!"

But this one meant a lot.

"How about it," manager Joe Maddon said. "That was spectacular. We're all happy for him. That's quite an achievement."

Fortunately, Ross will have that home run ball to keep forever. The fan who caught it offered the prize for only a photo with Ross -- nothing more.

Yeah, even Ross was suprised.

"Who wants a picture with me?" Ross said. "I'm surprised he didn't ask for (Kris Bryant)."

Ross hit his first career home run on June 28, 2002, a no-doubter off Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace, who took the mound in an 18-0 game. Grace was laughing as Ross rounded the bases, knowing he just served up a moment the 25-year-old would never forget. It was one of the worst pitches in baseball history.

One season later, Ross hit his second career home run off Claudio Vargas of the Montreal Expos. In 2005, he hit two off Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano. In 2006, he whacked a career-best 21 home runs -- more than one-fifth of his career total, all in one season. Ross even hit a grand slam off then-Oriole Jake Arrieta in 2011, before he became the Jake Arrieta of today.

Ross has home runs off Adam Wainwright, Madison Bumgarner, David Price, Masahiro Tanaka and three off Aaron Harang, but none will be remembered quite like the shot off Phillies pitcher Adam Morgan on Friday.

Now playing his 15th and final season, Ross is the lovable veteran among a team of kids. He's embraced by all for his lively personality, but his play has been good for the Cubs and their best record in baseball. He holds a 1.2 WAR on Fangraphs.

Perhaps executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer could be asking for Ross to reconsider his retirement if this continues. But Friday was a celebration of persistence. Ross set his sights on hitting 100 homers, and he attained that goal.

Ross left Wrigley Field on Friday with a baseball he'll cherish, plus a bottle of wine from Maddon, a bottle of champagne from Jon Lester and memories he won't soon forget.

More than anything, Ross will remember how the Cubs and their fans joined him to embrace this goal. They reached it together.

"Stuff like that," Ross said, "it's really cool."

Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.